Why does Massachusetts suck with cars?
So, I took my car to get inspected for the 4th time this afternoon. The original problem was that the front struts needed a replacement as well as the back because they were original from the purchase of the car in '91. Physically, the car is in better shape than it's been in a while and it passed safety, but I had never gotten an emissions test until last week. I know I was awful about that, since it was first failed in march of this year, so I have a rejected car since march. I brought my car to a station down the road, Access Auto Too, a few weeks ago where the guy took a look at it, never said it was my free inspection(keep in mind this is well past the 60 days) and he pulled the old sticker out of the trash and put it back on my car so that I at least had a sticker. So all repairs get done and I bring it back last Monday 8/15 and this is when it gets the emission test because now it is safe. I knew that I was going to have to pay again because now it was past the 60 days of the previous test, so my car fails with a 2.55 over the accepted 2.50 NOx (oxygen mixture) and I get a new 'R' sticker (that noticed this evening says the test was done 3/1) about an hour after the test starts to which the guy replies that now I can safely drive for 60 days with that sticker and to bring it back by then for a re-test. He suggests looking at the O2 sensor or the carburetor because it was such a marginal reading. There are other things to do that can change the reading as well, like changing the air filter, using a different grade of gasoline, and using an additive to clean the injector and carburetor all of which I did. After those changes were made and then a week and 200 miles later, I went back to the station for a re-test which it fails again....getting the same exact reading. You'd think that it would have at least gone up or down with it being so marginal. So the kid who did the inpection comes out and asks for the money for the test....wait what? charging me again? yep, that's correct. He gets pretty snippy too when I ask what he means seeing that I have come back a week after I had the initial test and doesn't take the time to explain anything he's saying before arguing with me, I'm not going to take that so I argue back. Whatever, so I pay ANOTHER $29 for today's test. I came back and scoured the rmv website this evening and a lot of things just don't add up (inspection website) and I am going to call the rmv tomorrow to get more info and get this settled.
The summer is coming to an end with a crash. It just went by way too fast and yes I missed some things that I wish I didn't that I am kicking myself incredibly for. I am coming back to school the first week of september a few days before classes start. No more band for me, which is going to be weird but good because I will have a relaxing fall for once. I'm also coming back to school with a few new things such as a new wardrobe that Meg and Chris helped me create while making me throw out A LOT of my old clothes and I'm also coming back with more responsibility and a greater self esteem than before. Being a law enforcement officer has changed me a bit I think and for the best. I hope I can keep my badge after I'm done!
I can't wait for this school year, especially that I will have weekends free and I have high hopes.